Wastewater Treatment Plant Wins Pollution Control Award

Only nine wastewater treatment plants nationwide honored for 15
years of achievement by the National Association of Clean Water
Agencies.

The treatment plant removes between 99 and 99.5 percent of
pollutants from 67 million gallons of wastewater daily.

Fairfax County’s wastewater treatment plant has received an award
for meeting federal pollution control standards 100 percent of the
time for 15 years in a row.

The Noman M. Cole Jr. Pollution Control Plant recently received a
Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of
Clean Water Agencies. This distinction was only given to nine
municipal water treatment plants across the nation for meeting
federal standards 15 years consecutively.

The plant removes between 99 and 99.5 percent of pollutants from 67
million gallons of wastewater daily. Federal rules strictly control
more than 100 substances that are present in wastewater. The plant’s
achievement helps protect the water quality of the county’s streams
and watersheds, as well as the Chesapeake Bay.

To comply with federal regulations, the plant uses a series of
physical, biological and chemical treatment processes. Before being
discharged into Pohick Creek, pollutants, nutrients like phosphorus
and nitrogen, bacteria and particulate matter are removed from
wastewater.

Municipal, industrial and other facilities must obtain federal
permits if their wastewater discharges directly into surface waters.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program
controls water pollution by regulating point sources, such as pipes
that discharge treated wastewater effluent into streams and rivers.
This permit program is responsible for significant improvements to
the nation’s water quality since 1972.

The Noman M. Cole Jr. Plant, located at 9399 Richmond Highway,
Lorton, is the largest advanced wastewater treatment plant in
Virginia. Nearly half of the 100 million gallons per day of
wastewater generated in the county is treated at the plant. It is
operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and was designed to treat
67 million gallons of wastewater per day.

The county’s Wastewater Management Program maintains approximately
3,400 miles of sanitary sewer lines, 84 permanent and temporary
sewage flow meters, 63 wastewater pumping stations, 142 sewage
grinder pumps, 29 miles of pressure sewer force mains, 4 miles of
water reuse force mains and 2 water reuse pumping stations in an
approved sewer service area that covers nearly 234 square miles. More
than 85 percent of the 325,000 households and virtually all
businesses in the county are connected to public sewers. New
developments and the majority of existing homes with septic tanks in
the county’s approved sanitary sewer service have public sewer
availability.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies represents nearly
464 of the nation’s public wastewater utilities, which provide
service to the majority of the nation. Wastewater treatment officials
are professional environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting
and improving the nation’s public health and its water.

For more information, contact the Fairfax County Wastewater
Treatment Division at 703-550-9740 ext. 255, TTY 711.